Natrone Means

OFFENSEThe 49ers have one of the most prolific offenses in pro football history and averaged 118.6 rushing and 260.2 passing yards per game. They have Steve Young, Jerry Rice, John Taylor and Brent Jones. Enough said.San Diego has to have a balanced offense to be successful. Natrone Means leads the Chargers in rushing behind an offensive line that is bigger than the 49ers' defensive line, but also has been bothered by injuries. Chargers quarterback Stan Humphries has a great arm for the long ball, but he has been inconsistent on short stuff.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Maryland freshman running back Raphael Wall, from Wilde Lake High, made his debut in the Terps' 24-0 loss to North Carolina at Kenan Stadium yesterday.Wall, 6 feet, 200 pounds, entered the game with 7 minutes, 6 seconds left in the first half. He rushed seven times for 20 yards, mostly on the outside.He said he didn't mind giving up his redshirt year to play in the Terps' final four games."I didn't think I was going to play because I had told him [coach Joe Krivak] I wanted to redshirt," said Wall, who had 2,063 yards on 189 carries at Wilde Lake.

Baseball Angels: Re-assigned C Bryan Graves to minor-league camp. Blue Jays: Reassigned P Kurt Bogott, P Matt McLellan, IF Cesar Izturis and C Joe Lawrence to minor-league camp. Dodgers: Reassigned OF Chin-Feng Chen to minor league camp. Indians: Signed IF Enrique Wilson to one-year contract. Marlins: Named Dave Littlefield VP-assistant GM, Scott Reid VP-assistant to GM and Al Avila vice president of scouting. Phillies: Acquired contract of 2B Sergio Nunez from unaffiliated Schaumburg.

When Darrell "Superman" Green sobbed on the sideline during a 41-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings six weeks ago, the Redskins organization and everybody close to the team probably wanted to cry with him.Green's tears were symbolic of how far once-proud Washington had fallen this season. Superman Green's spirit and strength had been broken by another humiliating setback, which dropped Washington to an 0-7 record.But there were nine more games to play, and the All-Pro cornerback had to somehow regain his status of caped crusader and fly again for the good of the franchise.

COLLEGE PARK -- Maryland fans no doubt were crushed yesterday by the Terps' latest heartbreaking defeat, a 31-24 loss to North Carolina. But somewhere in the bowels of Camden Yards, Orioles executives were flashing sinister smiles.Why the unusual interest from our beloved club officials? Because they've got a six-figure investment in Michael Thomas, the North Carolina freshman quarterback who was removed before halftime. Thomas, an outfielder, was their fourth pick in the 1990 draft.The Orioles want him to focus more on baseball, so they're secretly rooting that he'll lose interest in football.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- William Clarence Johnson used to urge his youngest son, Leon, an aspiring football player, to run through the woods behind their Morganton, N.C., home."

The Grid Griddle:Miami was putting the thump on West Virginia, 35-3, last Saturday when coach Dennis Erickson figured it was time to call off his dogs. The Mountaineers partied over the last six minutes and the final was 35-23."The score was hardly indicative of how one-sided the game was," said West Virginia coach Don Nehlen. "We couldn't begin to stop Miami's passing game."The operative numbers with the Hurricanes these days are 26 and 50. They've won 26 straight games, the longest current win streak in college ball, and the half-century is how many games they've won consecutively in the Orange Bowl.

SAN DIEGO -- The Miami Dolphins, without a victory since the Leon Lett game, are beginning to look like a David Shula team. Last-second bomb passes work against them, 245-pound running backs barrel through them and the playoffs may now pass by them.Miami coach Don Shula spent November consoling his son, David -- whose Bengals started 0-11 -- but now who is consoling whom?The Dolphins were trounced, 45-20, by the San Diego Chargers last night at Jack Murphy Stadium, and, with four straight losses and a 9-6 record, Miami's postseason possibilities can be counted on only two fingers.

Auto racingLarry Hedrick Motorsports -- Named Ricky Craven driver for 1995.BaseballCincinnati Reds -- Released C Joe Oliver.Minnesota Twins -- Sold the contract of C Tim McIntosh to Nippon of the Japanese League.Philadelphia Phillies -- Appointed CEO David Montgomery to the newly created position of co-general partner along with Bill Giles; announced that Montgomery, who also acquired a small interest in the team, eventually will be Giles' successor.San Francisco Giants -- Announced a working agreement with Single-A Burlington (Iowa)

The Ravens had the Jacksonville Jaguars beaten not once, but twice this season before succumbing to late rallies.Now, the Jaguars are one win away from the Super Bowl.Should the Ravens be encouraged?"Yes, absolutely," Ravens coach Ted Marchibroda said yesterday from the Bay area, where he is scouting talent at the East-West Shrine Classic.Not that he believes the Jaguars' success means the Ravens are close to the Super Bowl coming off a 4-12 season.Reality, please."I don't know about the word 'close,' " he said.